Caryopteris plant named ‘Summer Sorbet’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caryopteris  plant named ‘Summer Sorbet’, characterized by its compact and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; and green and yellow variegated leaves.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Caryopteris×clandonensiscultivar Summer Sorbet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCaryopteris plant, botanically known as Caryopteris×clandonensis, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Summer Sorbet’.

The new Caryopteris is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of theCaryopteris×clandonensis cultivar Kew Blue, not patented. The newCaryopteris was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleplant within a population of plants of the cultivar Kew Blue acontrolled environment in Marldon Paignton, United Kingdom in 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings at MarldonPaignton, United Kingdom since 2001, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Caryopteris are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Summer Sorbet’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Summer Sorbet’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

-   -   1. Compact and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Green and yellow variegated leaves.

Plants of the new Caryopteris are most similar to plants of its parent,the cultivar Kew Blue. Plants of the new Caryopteris differ primarilyfrom plants of the cultivar Kew Blue in foliage coloration as plants ofthe cultivar Kew Blue have solid green-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical plant of ‘Summer Sorbet’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalleaves of ‘Summer Sorbet’.

Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ slightly fromthe color values cited in the detailed botanical description whichaccurately describe the colors of the new Caryopteris.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Summer Sorbet has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in 19-cm containers in Boskoop, The Netherlands, under commercialpractice in an outdoor nursery during the early spring. Plants used forthe photographs and description were about two years old. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 5 to 18° C. andnight temperatures ranged from about 0 to 8° C. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caryopteris×clandonensis cultivar Summer    Sorbet.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the    Caryopteris×clandonensis cultivar Kew Blue, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 50 days at 25° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About 90 days at 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine; moderately branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Deciduous shrub. Compact and mounded            plant habit; flattened globular.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Freely branching; about nine            lateral branches per plant. Pinching, that is, removal of            the terminal apices, enhances branching potential.            Moderately vigorous.        -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 23 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter:            About 3 mm. Internode length: About 3.5 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Mottled, 199A and N199B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length:            About 3.2 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Oval to elliptic.            Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire to sparsely            serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Fragrance: When rubbed,            strong, spicy. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface:            Center, 143C to 144A; towards the margins, between 1A and            3A. Developing foliage, lower surface: Center, between 144C            to 144D and N144D; towards the margins, 3B. Fully expanded            foliage, upper surface: Center, 143C; towards the margins,            between 1A and 3A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface:            Center, 144B; towards the margins, 1A. Venation, upper and            lower surfaces: Same as lamina. Petiole: Length: About 8 mm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144B.-   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on    plants of the new Caryopteris.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Caryopteris have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Caryopteris.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caryopteris have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from −10 to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Caryopteris plant named ‘Summer Sorbet’, as illustrated and described. 